Admissions

Visting the school

We warmly welcome prospective children and their parents to visit Oakridge Parochial School to see for themselves what makes it such a special place. Please do not hesitate to contact the school to arrange a visit before making your application, or at any time during the year.

Applications

We welcome all applications for a place at Oakridge Parochial School, they should be made through Gloucestershire County Council for pupils starting school in reception. Click here for more information. In year applications should be made directly to school.

Admissions details

Oakridge is a Voluntary Aided School and aims to provide a caring and secure environment in which to work and learn. We seek to create a close partnership with teachers, governors, children, parents, church and the wider community.

Within an environment of Christian values we aim to nurture skills and attitudes that enable children and adults associated with the school to develop and respond positively to the opportunities and challenges of our rapidly changing world.

This should be read in conjunction with the Guide for Parents and Carers which is available from the Admissions and Transfer Team or www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/schooladmissions. If you have not received a letter about starting school by the end of November, please contact the Admissions and Transfer team on 01452 425407.

The Standard Admission Level for the school is six for each year group.

The Governors have drawn up the following order of priority for admissions.

1. A ‘looked after child’ (1) or a child who was previously looked after but immediately after being looked after became subject to an adoption (2) child arrangements order (3) or special guardianship order (4).

(1) A ‘looked after child’ is a child who is (a) in the care of a local authority, or (b) being provided with accommodation by a local authority in the exercise of their social services functions (see the definition in Section 22(1) of the Children Act 1989) at the time of making an application to a school. In Gloucestershire, such children are referred to as Children in Care.

(2) This includes children who were adopted under the Adoption Act 1976 (see section 12 adoption orders) and children who were adopted under the Adoption and Childrens Act 2002 (see section 46 adoption orders).

(3) Under the provisions of s.14 of the Children and Families Act 2014, which amend section 8 of the Children Act 1989, residence orders have now been replaced by child arrangements orders.

(4) See section 14A of the Children Act 1989 which defines a ‘special guardianship order’ as an order appointing one or more individuals to be a child’s special guardian (or special guardians).

2. Children living within the Parish – a map detailing the area is available at the school.

3. Siblings of children who are registered in the school and who will continue to do so at the time of admission of the younger child. (Sibling refers to brother or sister, half brother or sister, adopted brother or sister, step brother or sister, or the child of the parent/carer's partner). In every case, the child must be living in the same family unit at the same address.

4. Children for whom only one particular school is appropriate due to an exceptional medical condition. Applications under this criterion will only be considered if they are supported by a written statement from the child’s doctor. This must demonstrate that there is a very specific connection between the medical need and the facilities or resources of the school concerned.

5. Children with the strongest geographical claim, measured in a straight line from the ordnance survey address point of the child's home address (including flats) to the ordnance survey address point of the school, using the Local Authority's computerised measuring system, with those living closer to the school receiving the higher priority.

SEN.

The school is required to admit a child with a statement of Special Educational Needs or an Education Health and Care Plan (EHC) that names the school, outside the normal admission round, even if the school is full.

The Governors seek to offer equal access to all children for whom the education provision in the school is deemed suitable.

Prospective parents should be aware, however, that the structure of the building would restrict movement for children with some physical disabilities.

Waiting Lists

If the school is oversubscribed, a waiting list will be held for (at least) the first school term. The waiting list will be prioritised according to the school’s oversubscription criteria.

Fair Access Protocols

The school has signed up to the In-Year Fair Access Protocols held by the Local Authority. Should a vulnerable child within these Protocols require a place at the school, they will take precedent over any child on the waiting list.

In Year Admissions.

In year applications are all those made outside the normal round of admissions for children of compulsory school age i.e. those applications made during the academic year for a school place in Reception through to Year 6. The Local Authority is no longer responsible for offering places to children on behalf of all schools/academies, but the Local Authority does maintain the statutory duty of being aware of all pupils and vacancies within schools/academies within Gloucestershire. To apply for a place at Oakridge Parochial School, parents should therefore contact the school in the first instance.

Transport. No school transport is available.

Admission of Summer Born Children for Reception Entry for Oakridge School

The Governing Body of Oakridge School acknowledges the updated advice from the Department of Education that, parents/carers of "summer born" children (born between 1 April and 31 August) may request to start the Reception Class of a school a whole academic year later. The Governing Body will make a decision on behalf of Oakridge School. We follow the Local Authority process which states that parents can only apply for a Reception place at a school once and must apply for a place during the standard application process timeline for their chronological year group, stating their reasons for requesting deferred entry to the following year. The Governing Body will decide whether the deferred entry can be approved for the school.

Normal Admission Round

The term 'normal admissions round' refers to all applications for admission to the main year of entry of the school i.e. Reception for Infant and Primary Schools. Applications made during the normal admissions round will be made in advance of the academic year in which the child is due to start at the new school. Children are entitled to a full-time place, however, may attend part-time until later in the school year but not beyond the point at which they reach compulsory school age.

Within the overall framework of the admissions policy, the Governors seek to offer equal access to all children for whom the education provision in the school is deemed suitable.

If you would like to discuss any particular needs please contact Oakridge Parochial School.

Admissions and admission appeals still remain the responsibility of the Governing Body.